Gun mounts



Oct. 14, 1958 H. FOSTER 2,85 7

GUN MOUNTS Filed Dec. 2, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I-.

INVENTOR; HARRY CLARK FOSTER,

MJWM

a z ATTORNEYS.

1958 H. c. FOSTER 2,855,827

GUN MOUNTS Filed Dec. 2, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR HARRY CLARK FOSTER.

A TTORNEYS United States Patent 2,855,827 GUN MOUNTS Harry Clark Foster, Rosewood Heights, 111., assignor to 01in Mathieson' Chemical Corporation, East Alton, Ill., a corporation of Virginia Application December 2, 1954, Serial No. 472,631 3 Claims. (Cl. 89-41) This invention relates generally to guns, and more particularly togun mounts of the type disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 400,431, filed December 28, 1953, of which this is a' continuation-in-part.

The application referred to describes a gun mount for an eight-gauge gun of the type used in breaking up the clinker rings that form in a rotary kiln. In use, the gun is mounted at the end of the kiln and fired at a rapid rate, usually one operator being engaged in aiming the gun. while another loads it. The particular mount described has a gear type of training adjustment, but in some instances, the operator prefers the faster-action of a free swinging training adjustment. Accordingly, the present invention is directed to the provision of a mount that incorporates training gears that can be quickly and conveniently engaged or disengaged by the operator.

Briefly, a barrel carriage is mounted over a recessed platform by means providing for relative swinging move ment about a vertical axis. The underlying platform carries in its recess a worm screw and cooperating worm wheel, the latter being journaled upon a vertical axis. The worm wheel in turn drives an overlying pinion, which extends into an overlying recess of the carriage and is in mesh with a gear segment fixed to the overlying barrel carriage. The carriage and platform form gearhousing halves in slidable relationship with their recesses facing each other and each recess closed at thesliding point by the other half. The recesses together form a protectively closed gear chamber for the mount.

In the attainment of the aforestated object of the invention, the pinion is releasably coupled to the worm wheel by an axially movable clutch element, More specifically, the pinion is fixed upon a shaft, the lower end of which extends into and is keyed to an axially movable clutch sleeve. The lower end of the sleeve is formed as a knob, which is accessible beneath the platform for movement between advanced and retracted position. The sleeve extends through the worm wheel, and the upper end of the sleeve is formed with external teeth. The teeth on the sleeve, in turn, are designed to mesh with internal projections formed in the hub of the worm wheel when the sleeve is retracted, and to disengage when the sleeve is advanced. A detent may be provided to ,hold the sleeve in its advanced position, thereby to permit free swinging of the barrel carriage on its platform.

Other features of the invention will be in part apparent from and in part pointed out in the following detail detail description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: i i I Fig. l is a vertical section illustrating portions of the training apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken onthe line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail view similar to that of Fig. 1 illustrating an'alternative embodiment;

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and

I Fig. 6 is a detail view similar to that of Fig. 1, but showing an alternative type of sliding clutch.

Reference is made to the aforementioned patent application for a complete disclosure of a gun mount of the type with which the present invention is employed. For purposes of the present disclosure, it is suflicient to note that the gun mount is of a type adapted to be hung against nism being provided to absorb recoil.

Referring to the drawings, a portion of the gun platform is shown at 1 and a portion of the overlying carriage is shown at 3. The carriage is pivoted to the platform at a point (not shown) forward of the training adjustment (or to the left as viewed in Fig. 1), and has a sliding cooperation with the platform at the rear end adjacent the training mechanism. A retaining rail 5 may be affixed to the carriage so as to underlie a flange 7 formed at the rear of the platform. The carriage supports the barrel, part of which is shown at 9; and the receiver, part of which is shown .at 11, projects rearwardly from the barrel. The receiver normally includes a handle (not shown) for opening the breech and to facilitate aiming the gun. It will be understood that the platform is hinged upon a supporting bracket (not shown) for vertical movement about a horizontal axis at the forward end and is supported at its rear end by a leg partly shown at 13.

Training adjustment is achieved by means of certain gear mechanism, or altenrnatively, by swingingthe gun manually from the rear handle with the training gears disconnected. More particularly, the platform is formed with an upwardly opening cavity 15, and a worm screw 17 extends transversely through a portion of the cavity 15. The screw is manipulated by an exterior handle 19, and is internally engaged with a worm wheel 21. A partition plate 23 closes the cavity but for a bearing opening 25 through which extends a shaft 27. The shaft 27 is keyed at 29 to a pinion 31, the pinion being contained within a downwardly-opening cavity 33 formed in the barrel carriage 3. The carriage 3 also contains a fixed large-radius gear segment 35, which is in mesh with the pinion 31 so that rotation of the pinion causes the rear portion of the carriage 3 to be moved laterally with respect to the platform 1.

The pinion 31 is releasably connected to the worm wheel 21 by means of a clutch sleeve 37, which telescopes between the pinion shaft 27 and the worm wheel 21. A knob portion 39 formed on the lower end of the sleeve projects beneath the platform for manipulation by the operator, whereas the sleeve extends upwardly at 41 within the worm wheel and is slidably keyed in a slot 43 to the pinion shaft 27. The upper end 45 of the sleeve is then milled to provide outwardly projecting teeth, which are received within a recessed hub portion 47 of the worm Wheel. Pins 49 are aflixed to project inwardly from the hub near one end thereof, whereas the other end is relatively open to accommodate the teeth 45 when the clutch sleeve is pushed inwardly. A retaining pin 51 extending through the pinion shaft 27 holds the pinion against vertical displacement.

When the clutch sleeve is retracted, as illustrated in Fig. l, the teeth 45 thereof are meshed with the internal teeth-like elements 49 of the worm wheel. Manipulation of the handle 19 rotates the worm and worm wheel. The worm wheel is keyed to the pinion 31 through parts 47, 49, 45, 37, 43, 27 and 29, hence the pinion moves the Patented Oct. 14, 1958 gear segment 35'to oneside or the other, depending upon the direction in which the crank handle 19"is turned:

If it is desired to disengage the training gears, the knob 39 ofthe clutch sleeveis advanced so that the teeth 45move upwardlyfreeof' the pins 49. v The clutch sleeve may then be releasably heldin its advanced position, as by a -spring pressed'detent'ball153,, which'enters a detent groove 55"vvhen the sleeve is moved upwardly, to unlock the training gears. In that event the barrel carriage may be swung horizontally bydir'ect manipulation of th'e receiver 11. The training gears arereadily re-engaged, however by retracting the clutch sleeve while the handles 9.; is'Js n. .aiew urns, rrwhii j V ci a here ehr r. 11.

As the afo emen o ed app icat n, her coilim cha: 15 sm s, hown in .E. 1 tinchidesarear. arr napple, houlder 50, w ichw s riably; eceiv s a beari g, .2 hiseari g ,ha rar earw rdly, pawd. head '54 andaior: I Wardly disposed'nut 5 7'. A rebound, spring 5 9,'is ,corn; P e tween eshoulder50.. nd,the, eadptfist. Th nut 5'], a describedin the aforementioned application, is ,of the spannerwrench type and it hasa slotacut radi: ally and then concentrically over anarc, so 'as,to free.

a section of the threads for inwardmovement with respect,

to he main ody f he nut-i p, 1 set soceia'vsna tv 5 located over this section, and when these screws anejights ned,.. hc nut ecom sdo ked, intp i i rwit out amage. th'e threads.

In Figs 4 and 15, a different arrangementis illustrated, ln this instancet the nut 15 7, is;formed ,with feet-.159. hich overl e pposi e. es; of; th barr l, arr ges therebyv to prevent rotation of the nut whenllthe. bear-rg, slee nsl ist rned, The pp rlpo t on ofrth ut, is splihat 161 and a bolt 163-;ex tends;acrossthe split sectionso that theinner threads can be tightened,.to -loclc v the'nut, ox tl ebearing 5 2. It will benotedthaithe lower portion,165 of the nut opposite the split, 16 1-, is of; reduced cross section soas to facilitate,contraetion about the hearing by meansofthebolt 16 3. 7

From the foregoing description, it is apparent; that those skilled in the art willunderstand thestructure, func: tion and mode of operation of .theinvention herein dis closed, and appreciate the. advantages thereof. Although;- several embodiments ,have, been-disclosed in detail, it; is, ube nderstoo lha e; inv ntiqm s; n0tn1i dh re-;- to, but the drawings and description thereof. are to be, understood as being merely illustrative.- Fonexarnple, Fig. 6 illustrates a different arrangement; of the gear system; for, training control. In this inst ance,- th e; shaft 127 is moved vertically to disengage thepinion 131 from, thegearsegment, 135,. A- Woodr,u:fl key -1,49.-is secured-1 in the shaft to slide, withina keyway 143 in the' worm, wheel 121. When the knob 139 of the shaft isadyanced, thekey 149 moves to an upper position in the.;keyway 143, and the pinion 131 is disengaged, as'shownn The; knob 139 may be pulled down to'engage the-pinion,- however, the key149thensliding to the lower port of its keyway: The cavity 133 necessarily must be of a sizesufiicient to accommodate both extremes of movement ofsaid carriage relative to-the pinion, and the pinion is fixed-to the shaft. It is realized that many modifications and variations will present themselves'tothose skilled in theartwithout departingfrom-the spirit of this inventionor the scope-thereof as set forth in the appended claims."

Having thus described the invention, what -is claimedand desiredto be secured' by Letters Patent is:'

1. In a training gun mount for a kiln gun of the charactendiscl'osed, a lower housing section which is relatively fixed against horizontal movement, a movable upper housing section adapted to carry a gun and slide horizontally over said bottom section, said housing section being recessed at their parting faces to form a gear chamber therebetween which chamber: isperipherally closed by the abutting faces of said sections, a,.gear segment fixed within said chamber to said'upper section in a plane parallel-Jo; said ipartingfaces, a-,shaft rotatably journalled on; said lower section to-lextend :within said chamber, said shaft having fixed thereonv an upper pinion in mesh within ,saidchflzhbfir, with ,said (gear, segment and having rotatably mounted thereon a lower worm wheel disposed within said chamber, a wonnnrotatablyjournalled in said lower section of the housing to extend horizontally therethrough Within said chamber for manual rotation, a portionof said worm being inmeshwithsaidworm wheel within said 1gearchamber, and, means disengageably key-,

ing said worm wheel to. saidflshaft fordriviug said pinion, thereby moving said upper section.

2. Apparatus as setrforth inclaim -1, wherein the keying means further includes operator-control, means pro: jectingto the exterior of the housing sections through said'jlower, section of the;,housing from said shaft, said control means being adapted, for movement froma first position whereinthe worm is connected Withsaid gear, segment, to a second position wherein the wormis dis-. connectedfij from, said 7 gear segment, thereby, to permit, a uali mz xnc tv the pper. ec i ns f. helhou ing,

independently otsa dsea tra ntIna W aining g n mo nt f h h ra er di sed, alower housing sectionswhich is relatively fixed against horizontal movement, amovable upper-housing section adapted to c arry, ,a gun and slide, horizontally oversaid; lower section, said lower, housing section ,beingl formed,

withan upwardly-opening recess, an aperturedclosure plate, extending across the top of saidrecess, a shaft jour-. nailedvertically in said lower'housing sectio-n,and,in; said 'aperturqofjsaid plateto project above said platein.- moyablerelationship with said upper section,- a downwar dlyropening recesss formed in said upper housing; sec,-

am ic ai p yrpmi c po t on f sai shaft is reeiyed,,,al,.gear. segment fixed within. said down.

ward ly, -,0p, er ii 1 1g recess to said, uppersection oi the, hous ing adjacent said shaft, apinionqcarried on-the upper end of said shaft in mesh with, said gear segment, aworm wheel. carried on the lowerportion oftsaid shaft at the:

lower, housing section, and-1a worm journalled horizontally in saidlower housingsection in, mesh with. said worm wheel, said downwardly-opennig recess being of a, size, sufficient to accommodate. movement -of saidupper;

section relative to saidpinion, andsaid lower, section:

having asufficient unrecessed sliding face engagingwithsaid uppersectionto maintain said downwardly-opening,

recess closed.

RefrencfisCited in the file of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS 558,724 Fiske Apr; 21, 1896 882,988- Aloyos'et'al Mar; 24, 1908 923,207- Sjoquist June 1', 190 9 1,371,1891 Haller Mar. 15, 1921 1,523,662" Schneider I an. 2,0, 1925, 1,550,416 Barling Aug.'18 ,-19;25" 1,856,987 Elsea May,3, 1932' 

